Page 27 of Until the End

“I swear, I couldn’t love that boy more than I do right now.” Gia hands my phone back to me.

“What does that mean?”

“It means he wasn’t thinking with only his hormones. This is a big deal for the two of you. Fuck knows it’s been a long time coming, but that doesn’t mean you have to rush into doing anything.Youjust got out of a shitty relationship, andhehas loved you for too long to be a rebound fling.”

“I’d never treat him like a rebound.” Is that really what she thinks of me? And how long is too long?

Gia gently squeezes my forearm. “Not on purpose, Gin, but you do need to think carefully about this. Are you even ready to start a new relationship?”

I take my time with my answer. It should be easy to find the words to explain how I feel, given that I write love songs all the time. Instead, it’s like describing a sunrise while my eyes are closed. I know what colors should be there, but I have no idea how they blend together.

“I’ve thought a lot about my relationship with Wesley since I’ve been home. He treated me like shit. There’s no doubt about it. My confidence was in the toilet by our wedding day. When I saw him with that woman, I wasn’t brokenhearted that he cheated. I was relieved, actually, to have a definitive reason to leave. No, my heart was shattered because I spent so long believing that was what I deserved. The tiny scraps of affection he’d give me, interspersed with the cruelty he’d spew, left me broken down and unable to see who I was anymore.

“The last few months before the wedding, I’d checked out of the relationship. Wesley was barely around, mostly becauseI stopped reacting to his verbal attacks. It gave me enough space to wonder if the marriage was even what I wanted, but because my confidence was so low, I couldn’t see a way out. Who would want a broken woman like me?”

I find the courage to look up at my sister. It takes me a second to realize I’m not the only one with tears running down my cheeks.

“Gin, god… I will always be pissed at myself for not doing more to get through to you.”

A sad smile tilts the side of my mouth. “I wouldn’t have let you. Ididn’tlet you. I couldn’t let my strong-as-hell sister see how far I’d fallen.”

Gia wraps her arms around me in a tight squeeze. We hold on to each other until our tears dry up and we’re sniffing to get ourselves back in control. We both take fortifying sips of our drinks.

“Okay, back to Carson,” Gia prompts. “I think talking to him should be your first step. I’m not saying you can’t fuck each other’s brains out right after, but it would be good to chat before.”

My eyes bug out as I choke on my drink. “Gia!”

She cackles at my embarrassment. “Hey, I have no doubt he can make you forget your own name if you give him the chance.”

“I do not want to know why you believe that.”

“Call it a sex sense.” She winks.

“Awhat?”

“A sex sense. Like a sixth sense but for orgasms.”

I face-palm while I try and fail not to laugh at Gia’s ridiculousness.

My cell vibrates on the counter, interrupting our laughter. “Hey, Daren. What’s going on?”

“Mind if I come over to talk? I got a report back from my guys on the break-in.”

Well, that calms me down in a hurry. “Of course.” I hang up the phone and fill Gia in on why Daren’s coming over.

A few minutes later, he comes striding into the kitchen through the garage door. His black T-shirt stretches tight across his broad chest. Gia’s eyes devour the show of muscles, and I raise an eyebrow at her.

What?Her expression asks.

Stop checking out my employee.

Why? He’s yummy.

I roll my eyes and turn to Daren.

“Sorry to interrupt, Miss Ginny. Good to see you, Miss Gia.”

“It’salwaysa pleasure to see you, Daren.” Gia’s grin is wolfish, full of flirty desire. I’ve always admired how confident she is in her sexuality.

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